Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Touring
Reload this Page >

motor oil on the saddle........

Notices
Touring Have a dream to ride a bike across your state, across the country, or around the world? Self-contained or fully supported? Trade ideas, adventures, and more in our bicycle touring forum.

motor oil on the saddle........

Old 03-26-10, 11:04 AM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
motor oil on the saddle........

I just read Sheldon browns write up on leather (as I just purchaced my first Brooks b17)
The salesman pitched me a tin of proofide, and I oblidged.

But mr. Brown seems too think this is only for the faint of heat and that in order to achieve maximum results, more durastic measures and materials are needed.
(sounds like a challenge to me)

he lists a bunch of products that seem to be pretty hard to find here in japan.........except for motor oil.

So..........I'm thinking of trying it........tomorrow when I get home.

Objections or advice before I subject my new honey brown to a baptism of 30wt black gold?
squash is offline  
Old 03-26-10, 11:19 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 85
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Please submit before and after photos. Thanks.
icebiker76 is offline  
Old 03-26-10, 11:29 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
TonyS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Springfield, MO
Posts: 300

Bikes: Trek 1200

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Also, be sure to document the whole thing on YouTube...
TonyS is offline  
Old 03-26-10, 11:36 AM
  #4  
GATC
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: south Puget Sound
Posts: 8,728
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 464 Post(s)
Liked 49 Times in 27 Posts
Motor oil will be a disaster, don't do it.

I have had good luck w/ no treatment whatsoever on leather saddles. Stuff a plastic bag under it so the bottom doesn't get wet while you ride, then put the plastic bag on the top when you park it so it doesn't get rained on when your butt's not on it, and that will last many thousands of miles.

Proofide as such is not necessary. Any kind of beeswax for waterproofing at least won't hurt the saddle like motor oil will.
HardyWeinberg is offline  
Old 03-26-10, 11:45 AM
  #5  
rhm
multimodal commuter
 
rhm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,852

Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...

Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times in 339 Posts
Yeah, right, motor oil. Not to change the subject or anything, but has anyone ever noticed the late Sheldon "the infallible" Brown's deadpan sense of humor? I never met him, but I pick it up in his writing sometimes.

Here's what he says about motor oil: "There are probably lots of other liquid oils that would work as well-RAAM pioneer Lon Haldeman uses SAE 30 motor oil, but his saddles tend to wear out after only 300,000 miles or so (according to Cyclist magazine)." Does it sound to you like he's serious? Sounds to me like he's pulling someone's leg.

If you're talking about a new Brooks saddle that you've paid $50 - $200 for, my advice is: leave it alone! Ride it for at least a few hundred miles before you do anything to it.

If you're talking about a 15 year old saddle you've bought used or inherited, it has probably dried out a bit and it could use some Proofide.
rhm is offline  
Old 03-26-10, 12:07 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
blaise_f's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 627

Bikes: Surly Trucker

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Search function:

Are you guys ready to throw rocks at an infidel?

When 100s of miles and regular Proofide treatments didn't do the job, I was ready to throw my Brooks saddle into the landfill. In desperation, I tried Lon Haldeman's (Race Across America Champion) alleged secret: I soaked the saddle in motor oil for a few hours in the baking sun, wiped it down and have been riding comfortably ever since. That was about five years ago.

Strangely, my next Brooks saddle for another bike didn't seem to need any breaking in. Probably because my butt was what actually needed the conditioning in the first place.
As far as me, I don't use anything on my leather saddles. Something as thin as SAE 30 will surely make your saddle quite soft (this is my untested opinion - grain of salt and all that). Some Brooks come extremely hard, some come quite soft. My last B17 started breaking in around 400 miles, and was an hammock after 5k. My current B67 is so hard that it feels like riding on a steel saddle, but that didn't coerce me to use anything on it. After a few hundred miles, it's now breaking in a tiny bit, and it feels quite comfortable.
blaise_f is offline  
Old 03-26-10, 12:49 PM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,198
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 137 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 81 Times in 64 Posts
whale oil?
LeeG is offline  
Old 03-26-10, 01:02 PM
  #8  
aka Phil Jungels
 
Wanderer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: North Aurora, IL
Posts: 8,234

Bikes: 08 Specialized Crosstrail Sport, 05 Sirrus Comp

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 202 Post(s)
Liked 86 Times in 60 Posts
Originally Posted by rhm
Yeah, right, motor oil. Not to change the subject or anything, but has anyone ever noticed the late Sheldon "the infallible" Brown's deadpan sense of humor? I never met him, but I pick it up in his writing sometimes.

Here's what he says about motor oil: "There are probably lots of other liquid oils that would work as well-RAAM pioneer Lon Haldeman uses SAE 30 motor oil, but his saddles tend to wear out after only 300,000 miles or so (according to Cyclist magazine)." Does it sound to you like he's serious? Sounds to me like he's pulling someone's leg.

If you're talking about a new Brooks saddle that you've paid $50 - $200 for, my advice is: leave it alone! Ride it for at least a few hundred miles before you do anything to it.




If you're talking about a 15 year old saddle you've bought used or inherited, it has probably dried out a bit and it could use some Proofide.
This one ++++++ ! I have noticed the same humor injected in his writings, which is exactly how I took this one!!!!! Sometimes he even tells you it's a joke; but, not always...
Wanderer is offline  
Old 03-26-10, 01:14 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
blaise_f's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 627

Bikes: Surly Trucker

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Search the net. You'll find numerous people who have done the motor oil treatment and were happy with it. I can't say I would do it, but to each their own. Just because "Sheldon" sounds sarcastic doesn't mean it won't work.
blaise_f is offline  
Old 03-26-10, 01:32 PM
  #10  
rhm
multimodal commuter
 
rhm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,852

Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...

Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times in 339 Posts
Originally Posted by blaise_f
Search the net. You'll find numerous people who have done the motor oil treatment and were happy with it. I can't say I would do it, but to each their own. Just because "Sheldon" sounds sarcastic doesn't mean it won't work.
Yes, of course, this is perfectly true. But since OP asked our advice, I figured I would give him/her mine. And I'll repeat it, too: don't do anything to a new saddle until you've got to know it. Maybe it needs some kind of radical treatment; maybe it doesn't. Don't jump to any conclusions.

As for taking Sheldon seriously, don't judge a mechanic by his helmet!
Attached Images
File Type: jpeg
scb_eagle_contact.jpeg (31.5 KB, 223 views)

Last edited by rhm; 03-26-10 at 01:36 PM.
rhm is offline  
Old 03-26-10, 02:52 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: East Tennessee
Posts: 177

Bikes: Rivendell--Sam Hilleborne, the only one I need.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I do not want the additives included in motor oil massaged into my butt.
gamecock is offline  
Old 03-26-10, 04:33 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Neither here nor there
Posts: 126

Bikes: Balthorium G

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by gamecock
I do not want the additives included in motor oil massaged into my butt.
I'm tempted to say that motor oil is carcinogenic but I'd have to a degree in something or other to say that with conviction. Like you say, I'm not sure I'd want that additive package ground into my package day after day. A petro-chemical would not be my first.
redbike72 is offline  
Old 03-26-10, 05:33 PM
  #13  
Kid A
 
TurbineBlade's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,778
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts
Probably many oils would soften the leather. People who work with leather tell me you don't need to use oil, and that they just "wet" most leathers a bit with plain water and it breaks in fine.

I rubbed some vegetable oil on mine about 8 months ago and it broke in just fine with a lot of saddle time. I haven't put anything else on it since and don't intend to.
TurbineBlade is offline  
Old 03-26-10, 05:38 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
CGinOhio's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 160

Bikes: 2011 Co-Motion Nor'Wester, 2007 Co-Mo Speedster copilot tandem

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I wouldn't use motor oil. As posted by others the staining and health concerns are valid. Is petroleum jelly (Vaseline®) or mineral oil (baby oil) available in Japan? These are low cost, highly refined, and without the additives in 10W40. Never tried them on a saddle, so proceed at your own risk.
CGinOhio is offline  
Old 03-26-10, 05:57 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
Cyclebum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: NE Tx
Posts: 2,766

Bikes: Tour Easy, Linear USS, Lightening Thunderbolt, custom DF, Raleigh hybrid, Felt time trial

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
From experience(bad), follow the manufacturer's instructions without wavering if you want maximum life from your Brooks. I was warned about motor oil, but ignored the warning and paid for my foolishness by greatly diminished saddle life. If I were to try another Brooks, I might apply a little proofide, but nothing else.

Storing the bag under the saddle is a great idea.
Cyclebum is offline  
Old 03-26-10, 06:20 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Alberta,Canada.
Posts: 800
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
It wont be honey brown anymore.
ddez is offline  
Old 03-26-10, 06:22 PM
  #17  
Dirt Bomb
 
sknhgy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,857
Mentioned: 64 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5388 Post(s)
Liked 276 Times in 229 Posts
Originally Posted by blaise_f
Search the net. You'll find numerous people who have done the motor oil treatment and were happy with it. I can't say I would do it, but to each their own. Just because "Sheldon" sounds sarcastic doesn't mean it won't work.
Someone should do a study to see if a full moon brings out these kinds of posts. Might make a good masters thesis for someone.
sknhgy is offline  
Old 03-26-10, 06:30 PM
  #18  
Senior Member
 
MNBikeguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 1,834

Bikes: 05 Trek 5200, 07 Trek 520, 99 GT Karakoram, 08 Surly 1X1

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by sknhgy
Someone should do a study to see if a full moon brings out these kinds of posts. Might make a good masters thesis for someone.
I'd use oil of oregano. Along with treating your saddle, it will cure your hemorrhoids also.
MNBikeguy is offline  
Old 03-26-10, 06:50 PM
  #19  
shut up and ride
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: noho
Posts: 1,947

Bikes: supersix hi-mod,burley duet tandem,woodrup track,cannondale cross,specialized road

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
why not use mineral oil? cheap, easy to find, safe for your saddle and you (since it is used as a laxative)
zzzwillzzz is offline  
Old 03-26-10, 09:57 PM
  #20  
Senior Member
 
blaise_f's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 627

Bikes: Surly Trucker

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by sknhgy
Someone should do a study to see if a full moon brings out these kinds of posts. Might make a good masters thesis for someone.
Maybe you should take your own advise. What was the topic again? Oh yea, saddles. Clearly I was *way off point* in suggesting some internet-based searching (even though I suggested against using petroleum-based oil). Perhaps someone should do a study to see why threads derail thanks to egotistical trolls. Perhaps that would make a good master's thesis for someone.
blaise_f is offline  
Old 03-26-10, 10:55 PM
  #21  
on by
 
skijor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 957

Bikes: Waterford RS-33, Salsa Vaya, Bacchetta Giro 20 ATT

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 927 Post(s)
Liked 690 Times in 437 Posts
Although I haven't tried motor oil (and wouldn't), I did immerse my B17 in neatsfoot oil for a good half hour. That was over a year and ~2000 miles ago. It is not falling apart and shows no discernible stretch/deterioration at the rivets. As noted, oil will darken the saddle. Mine is black so that's a non-issue. You won't be able to ride in anything but black biking shorts until the excess oil has wicked to something. Did it work for me? Yes, the leather is still quite supportive but has considerably more flex. I'd suggest riding it without anything (not even the Proofhide) applied for at least 500 miles, preferably 1000+. And like has been stated, plain old water will aid the break-in process. Plenty of BF posters have commented that their Brooks saddles have benefited from a good ride in the rain, whether it was intentional or not. I did try water but must not have been liberal enough with it though. I applied a wet (not dripping) washcloth over the rear of the seat for ~1/2 hour prior to riding. Proceed with caution and good luck.
skijor is offline  
Old 03-27-10, 05:03 AM
  #22  
Kid A
 
TurbineBlade's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,778
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 5 Posts
Maybe you should take your own advise. What was the topic again? Oh yea, saddles. Clearly I was *way off point* in suggesting some internet-based searching (even though I suggested against using petroleum-based oil). Perhaps someone should do a study to see why threads derail thanks to egotistical trolls. Perhaps that would make a good master's thesis for someone.
It would be harder to get a grant to fund this one.

Kind of like this:

https://www.theonion.com/articles/une...kes-beer,2186/
TurbineBlade is offline  
Old 03-29-10, 06:12 PM
  #23  
Cycle Year Round
 
CB HI's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Honolulu, HI
Posts: 13,644
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1316 Post(s)
Liked 92 Times in 59 Posts
You already have the manufacturers proofide, why are you considering anything else.

Most of the other suggestions are by people that do not want to pay for the proofide or want to shorten the break in period (not always with best results).
CB HI is offline  
Old 03-29-10, 06:37 PM
  #24  
Senior Member
 
JeanM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Montreal
Posts: 194

Bikes: Surly LHT and Opus Urbano

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Vaseline hardens the skin in the long run, treats both end of the problem?
JeanM is offline  
Old 03-30-10, 05:36 AM
  #25  
sniffin' glue
 
zoltani's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Seattle
Posts: 3,182

Bikes: Surly crosscheck ssfg, Custom vintage french racing bike, Bruce Gordon Rock & Road

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by CB HI
You already have the manufacturers proofide, why are you considering anything else.

Most of the other suggestions are by people that do not want to pay for the proofide or want to shorten the break in period (not always with best results).
+1
That's what I was thinking, you've got the proofide, so use it! (sparingly)
zoltani is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.